Work in Progress
Session S3E
THE USE OF RESEARCH ACTIVITIES AS LEARNING INSTRUMENT IN
ELETRICAL ENGINEERING AND COMPUTER SCIENCE GRADUATIONS
Carlos A. P. S. Martins 1 , Milene B. Carvalho 2 , Christiane V. Pousa 3 , Dulcinéia O. Penha 4
Abstract – In this paper we analyze the use of research
activities as learning instrument in electrical engineering
and computer science. This pedagogic approach was
applied in undergraduate disciplines, undergraduate
teaching assistance and undergraduate research projects.
Our main goals are optimize the learning process using
research and motivate the use of research activities as
learning instrument.
published in scientific events [3]. In undergraduate research
projects we obtained the best results, with great quality
researches and publication of many papers in national and
international events (some IEEE) [4]. Some best students,
with scientific research method domain and scientific
maturity, are already in graduate programs.
Index Terms – Learning instrument, pedagogic approach,
research activities.
Research activities optimized the learning, motivating the
accomplishment of new and more complex researches.
Discipline students approved the use of research activities as
learning instrument, independently of posture and behavior
changes. The interest and approval increase among teaching
assistance students and mainly undergraduate research
students. Professors evaluate results as very good, above the
expected. We highlighted that researches experience aid in
human resources formation, qualified for academic and
professional markets. Thus, our goals were reached.
Main contributions are proposition, development,
application and verification of a pedagogic approach based
on the use of research activities as learning instrument in the
graduation. This approach motivates and optimizes the
learning. Another contribution is the creation of an
undergraduate research environment, in disciplines, teaching
assistance activities and undergraduate research projects.
INTRODUCTION
Our pedagogic approach uses research activities as an
instrument to optimize the learning process. This approach
was applied with gradually varied complexity, dependent of
the contexts/moments. The application of these research
activities can also motivate students to develop new
researches.
The approach was applied in undergraduate disciplines,
undergraduate teaching assistance and undergraduate
research projects in Pontifical Catholic University of Minas
Gerais (PUC-Minas), Brazil.
PEDAGOGIC APPROACH
In undergraduate disciplines, a learning method based on
constructivism, group and simple research activities and
real-problem solution projects was applied [1]. In teaching
assistance a hybrid approach was used. It combines
individual/cooperative research and aid in another students
learning. In undergraduate research, we applied an advisory
model based on construction and exercise of scientific
method. This model represents more complex research
activities and proposal, preparation and submission of
scientific papers.
Verification show that, in disciplines, all students
participate of group research activities, producing and
presenting simple research results. Some highlighted
students published research papers [2]. Usually, teaching
assistance activities served as preparation for undergraduate
research or as continuation of the research activities in
undergraduation disciplines and some papers has been
CONCLUSIONS
REFERENCES
[1]
Martins, Carlos A. P. S., Corrêa, João B. T., Goés, Luis F. W., Ramos,
Luiz E. S., Medeiros, Talles H. "A New Learning Method of
Microprocessor Architecture", 32 nd ASEE/IEEE Frontiers in
Education Conference, Boston, 2002, S1F 16-S1F 21.
[2]
Costa, Alexandra S., Pousa, Christiane V., Martins, Carlos A. P. S.
"Design and Development of a Cache Memory Simulator: functional
and performance analysis ", III Workshop em Sistemas
Computacionais de Alto Desempenho WSCAD´2002, 2002, pp. 152153. (in Portuguese)
[3]
Penha, Dulcineia O. , Carvalho, Milene B., Martins, Carlos A. P. S.
"Design of a RISC Processor Dedicated to Multimedia Application",
II Workshop em Sistemas Computacionais de Alto Desempenho
WSCAD´2001, 2001, pp. 150-153. (in Portuguese)
[4]
Ramos, Luiz E. S., Góes, Luis F. W., Martins, Carlos A. S. P.
“Teaching And Learning Parallel Processing Through Performance
Analysis Using Prober”, 32nd ASEE/IEEE Frontiers in Education
Conference, Boston, 2002, pp. S2F 13-S2F 18.
1
Carlos Augusto Paiva da Silva Martins, Pontifical Catholic University of Minas Gerais (PUC-Mi nas), Computer Science Department and Graduate
Program in Electrical Engineering (PPGEE), Computational and Digital Systems Laboratory (LSDC), Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil [email protected]
2
Milene Barbosa Carvalho, PUC-Minas, PPGEE, LSDC, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil [email protected]
3
Christiane Vilaça Pousa, PUC-Minas, Co mputer Science Department, LSDC, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil [email protected]
4
Dulcinéia Oliveira da Penha, PUC-Minas, PPGEE, LSDC, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil [email protected]
0-7803-7961-6/03/$17.00 © 2003 IEEE
November 5-8, 2003, Boulder, CO
33 rd ASEE/IEEE Frontiers in Education Conference
S3E-14